Treatment of packages

ABSTRACT

A PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL PACKAGE WHICH COMPRISES PASSING A PROCESSING FLUID THROUGH THE PACKAGE IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS.

Oct. 3, 1972 G. c. M. BYRD TREATMENT OF PACKAGES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1970 Fig.i

% .4 iflasns Oct. 3, 1972 G. c. M. BYRD 3,695,827

TREATMENT OF PACKAGES Filed Jan. 7, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

Patented Oct. 3, 1972 US. Cl. 8-1551 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISQLOSURE A process for the treatment of a substantially cylindrical package which comprises passing a processing fluid through the package in a direction substantially parallel to its longitudinal axis.

This invention relates to the treatment of packages and particularly to a process for the treatment of substantially cylindrical packages.

Textile materials are frequently assembled into packages in which form they are subjected to washing, dyeing and other processing treatments. A typical package of this type is that which is commonly called a cheese of yarn. Treatment of such packages with fluids, as for example in washing and dyeing processes, has hitherto usually been efiected by causing the liquid to flow through the package in as essentially radial direction; usually the flow is from the centre of the package outwards but it can if desired be in wards to the centre. Several of the packages are usually mounted on a perforated hollow mandrel to form a substantially cylindrical package so that the liquid is circulated through a number of the individual packages simultaneous- 1y. Furthermore, woven textile materials are often wound into a roll on a mandrel, and the fluid is caused to flow through the roll in an essentially radial direction.

The conventional radial-flow processing treatments involve the use of large volumes of the processing fluid, i.e. high liquor ratios when using a liquid, and result in large volumes of spent fluid for disposal. Moreover, uniform dyeing of the yarn or filament, or uniform removal of contamination by washing, is not always entirely satisfactory in such processes due at least in part to variation of the rate of flow of the processing liquid between the inside and the outside of the package.

Futhermore, radial-flow processes, especially those employing a gas as the processing fluid, for example airdrying of cheeses, have the disadvantage that the fluid can pass more easily through the upper part of the cheese than through the lower part. Consequently treatment of the lower part is lengthy and it is difficult to obtain uniform treatment throughout the package. Non-uniformity of flow of the fluid through the package introduces variation of humidity and problems of migration of materials Within the package.

We have now found surprisingly that the volume of the processing fluid required for treating cheeses of yarn or other substantially cylindrical permeable packages can be reduced and the uniformity of the treatment can be improved, if the fluid is caused to flow through the package in a direction substantially parallel to its longitudinal axis.

According to the present invention we provide a process for the treatment of substantially cylindrical packages which comprises passing a processing fluid through the package in a direction substantially parallel to its longitudinal axis.

A number of individual items, for example cheeses may be treated simultaneously, for example by assembling them on a central mandrel to form a substantially cylindrical package. The assembly (in the form of a cylinder) is then placed coaxially in a tube of which the internal diameter is advantageously equal to or only slightly greater than the external diameter of the package. If the internal diameter of the tube is considerably greater than the external diameter of the package then sealing means, for example annular sealing rings, may be provided to prevent the processing fluid from by-passing the packages. Alternatively the tube may be made of a flexible materials for example a plastic so that it can be deformed to accommodate the package. For instance a flexible tube can be drawn around the outer surface of the package. The processing fluid is then pumped into one end of the tube and is caused to flow longitudinally through the tube. Usually the fluid will percolate downwards through a vertical tube but if desired it may be forced upwards through the tube. However, the treatment tube need not be vertical and it may in fact be horizontal or inclined; the greater the angle of inclination of the tube to the vertical the more diflicult is it to ensure flow of liquid parallel to its axis, but the flow is still essentially axial.

The temperature of the processing fluid will depend to some extent upon the treatment to be carried out and the yarn or filament to be treated. In particular the temperature of the processing fluid should be below that at which damage might result to the material of which the package is made, although in some cases it may be desirable to employ a hot fluid. For example in washing processes a hot liquid is often advantageous. Normally, however, the temperature of the fluid will not exceed C.

The processing fluid may be any fluid with which it is desired to treat the material of the package. It may be for instance an aqueous liquid or an organic solvent such as a washing liquor, rinsing liquor, finishing agent, or dye liquor, or it may be a gaseous medium, for example air or steam employed to dry or heat the package or effect curing of a resin present in the package.

Amongst the organic solvents which may be used there may be mentioned in particular benzene, white spirit and other petroleum fractions, and halogenated hydrocarbons, especially chlorinated and chlorofluorinated hydrocarbons, for example thichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, methylene chloride and 1,1,Z-trichloro-1,2,2-trifiuoroethane. Gaseous media which may be used include for example, air, water vapour, organic solvent vapours, formaldehyde and chlorine.

The processing tube can be easily sealed and insulated, thus enabling superatmospheric or subatomspheric pressure conditions to be induced therein. If desired heating or cooling means for the tube may be provided.

After treatment of the packages with a liquid, it is convenient to remove at least a portion of the liquid from the packages before removing them from the processing tube. This can be effected by liquid/liquid displacement and/or by a gas purge which can be by gas at ambient or elevated temperature. The gas may be, for example, air, water vapour or the vapour of the processing liquid which has been used, or mixtures thereof. The removal of fluid from the package can be assisted by creating a vacuum in the processing tube or, in the case of removing a liquid, by employing a gas under superatmospheric pressure. Liquid which is displaced from the cylinder in this way can be recovered and purified by distillation and/ or filtration for re-use. Liquid which is evaporated from the package by a gaseous purge can be recovered by condensation and/ or adsorption.

The fluid treatment process of the invention may be one treatment in a sequence of treatments to which the package is subjected, and if desired other treatments in the sequence may be with fluid which is passed through the package in a substantially radial direction; radial flow of fluid is only possible, of course, if the package is permeable in this direction. Thus for example a package of textile material may be treated with a liquid by causing the liquid to flow in an axial direction and the package may be dried by causing a drying gas to flow radially through it.

Any material in the form of a substantially cylindrical package which is permeable to fluids can be treated by the process of the invention. Examples of packages which may be treated are rolls of textile fabrics, cheeses of yarn (usually assembled end to end on a mandrel), rolls of non-porous material such as metal (e.g. stainless steel) or plastic sheet, rolls of paper or felt, cylindrical packages of fibres in sliver form, and balls or cones of yarn assembled on a common mandrel.

The invention is illustrated but in no way limited by the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings which are schematic representations in vertical section of two forms of apparatus suitable for carrying out the process of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the apparatus comprises a closed treatment vessel 1 in which are provided four treatment tubes 2 and 2a. Disposed above and to the side of each tube 2, 2a is a spray nozzle 3 for dispensing a processing liquor into the tubes. The spaces 4 between the tubes are closed at the top and the bottom so as to prevent passage of the processing liquor other than through the tubes 2 and 2a.

The base 5 of vessel 1 is provided with an outlet 6 for liquid and an outlet '7 for a gaseous medium, valves 8 and 9 being provided in the outlets 6 and 7 respectively. The cover 10 of vessel 1 is provided with an inlet 11 for liquid and an inlet 12 for a gaseous medium, the inlet 11 being to the spray nozzles 3 inside the vessel. Valves 13 and 14 are provided in the inlets 11 and 1'2 respectively.

In using the apparatus substantially cylindrical packages 15 and 16 of yarns or filaments which are for example contaminated with oil from a previous spinning process are assembled end to end on central mandrels 17 and are placed in the treatment tubes 2. In FIG. 1 three of the treatment tubes 2 are shown loaded with cheeses 15 of yarn which are a close fit in the tubes. The fourth tube 2a is shown loaded with essentially cylindrical parallelwound packages of yarns which are of external diameter considerably less than the diameter of the tube. In this case annular sealing rings 18 are provided between the packages to ensure that processing liquor passes through the packages 16 as it passes through the tube 2a. The cover 10 of vessel 1 is closed and the appropriate processing liquor is introduced through inlet 11 and spray nozzles 3. The liquor is allowed to percolate down the tubes 2, 2a thus extracting the oil from the yarns, the rate of introduction of liquor being selected and if necessary adjusted accordingly. Liquor which has percolated down the tubes into the base 5 of vessel 1 is withdrawn at an appropriate rate through outlet 6. The liquor withdrawn through out- 4 i let 6 can be passed to a stock tank or to purification mean (not shown in the drawing) from which it can be passed to inlet 11 so that recirculation of the passing liquor is permitted.

After the liquid treatment is completed valve 13 is closed and the liquor in vessel 1 is drained off through outlet 6. Valve 8 is then closed and valves 9 and 14 are opened. Air or another gaseous medium is then introduced through inlet 12 and is withdrawn through outlet 7 to remove residual liquid from the packages -15 of the yarn or filament. The air or gas withdrawn through outlet 7 can be passed back to inlet 12 through intermediate cooling, liquid separation and if necessary re-heating means (not shown in the drawing) in a recirculating system.

A final treatment with fresh air through inlet 12 and outlet 7 may be carried out to remove residual traces of liquid from the yarns or filaments. The packages can then be removed from the treatment vessel.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 2 comprises a cylindrical container 20 provided with valved inlet and outlet ducts 21, 22 and 23. The ducts 21 and 22 contain valves 24 and 25 respectively and the duct 23 is divided and contains valves 26 and 27. The container '20 has a cover 28' into which are fitted a support rod 29 movable eccentrically by means of a motor 30. A detachable support plate 31 is provided on the support rod 29.

In using the apparatus a coil or roll 32 of steel strip, contaminated for example with rolling lubricants, on a mandrel 33 is slid onto the support rod 29 and the support plate 31 is engaged. The assembly is placed in the container 20 which is closed by the cover '28 and a washing liquid is introduced through duct 21 and valve 24. For this operation valves 25 and 27 are closed and valve 26 is open. The washing liquid is pumped upwards through the container and overflows via duct 23 through valve 26. During this washing process the motor 30 is actuated to vibrate the support plate 31 eccentrically so as to promote intimate contact of the washing liquid with the surfaces of the steel in the coil 32. After a suitable washing period fresh rinse liquid is introduced through duct 22. When the rinsing is completed, valves 24 and 26 are shut and valves 25 and 27 are opened to allow liquid to drain from the container. The coil 32 is then dried by forcing a gas downwards through the container via ducts 23 and 22 and/ or by applying vacuum to the duct 22. The dried coil 32 can then be removed from the container 20.

As in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the washing liquid withdrawn through duct 23 and valve 26 can be passed to a stock tank or to a purification device (not shown) for recirculation to the container 20.

It will be readily apparent that the apparatus shown in either FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 can easily be modified to incorporate means for passing a fluid through the packages in a radial direction so that a sequence of axial flow and radial flow treatments can be carried out within the vessel.

What I claim is:

1. A process of the treatment of a plurality of substantially cylindrical packages of a textile material which comprises downwardly percolating a processing liquid axially through the packages which are located coaxially in at least one processing tube and the processing tube is disposed substantially vertically and subsequently passing a gas axially through the packages to remove at least a portion of the processing liquid from the packages.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the internal diameter of the tube is substantially equal to the external diameter or the largest external diameter of the package.

3. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the internal diameter of the processing tube is adjustable.

4. A process as claimed in claim 3 wherein the processing tube comprises a flexible plastic material.

5. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature of the processing liquid is from 0 C. to C.

6. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liquid is an organic grease solvent.

7. A process as claimed in claim 2 where the processing tube is heated or cooled.

8. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein superatmospheric or subatmospheric pressure is established within the processing tube.

9. A process as claimed in claim 1 which is one stage of a multi-stage process for treating the package.

10. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the package comprises cheeses assembled end to end on a mandrel.

11. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the package comprises a roll of textile fabric.

12. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of tubes containing the plurality of packages are simultaneously treated with the processing liquid and subsequently 15 189 simultaneously treated with the gas.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1956 Bolomey 68-489 4/1963 iBahlo 68-489 8/1964 Krantz 68-489 FOREIGN PATENTS l/1954 Belgium -h 8-154 11/1966 Switzerland 68-189 7/1953 Germany 68--20 WILLIAM I. PR'ICE, Primary Examiner U .S. Cl. X.R. 

